Pillow system

ABSTRACT

A support pillow system for maintaining a hairstyle is provided consisting of a deformable cylindrical neck support pillow and a shoulder support pillow. The system is placed on a sleeping surface to support both the neck of the person when sleeping and the shoulder. The diameter and length of the cylinder shaped neck support pillow cooperate to position the pillow on the shoulder support pillow to hold the position of the neck support pillow so that the hairstyle is not damaged by contact with the sleeping surface or the shoulder support pillow.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a pillow system to maintain a hairstyle during sleep, especially shorter hair styles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pillows come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Common to conventionalpillow products is their effect on hair styles of men and women duringsleep. The effect on the styled hair can vary as can the causing event.There is a need to prolong the life of styled hair. A number ofsolutions have been proposed in the patent literature. Typical solutionsinclude pillow covers made of materials, e.g. satin, that minimizeharmful friction and thereby hair damage, e.g. GB 2,319,535, and pillowshape directed to providing support so that hair contact with the pillowis avoided or minimized, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,631. A published U.S.Application No. 200501027759 discloses the use of an ear pillow. Theminiature ear pillow is placed upon a conventional pillow so thatneither pillow disturbs one's hairstyle.

These approaches have downsides. The first does not avoid hair contact,the second requires the manufacture of multiple sized shapes toaccommodate the individualized needs and the third disrupts sleep. Onesize pillow rarely works for all. Consider U.S. Pat. No. 8,418,294.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves the use of a pillow system to provide support forboth a person's neck and shoulder(s) when asleep so that the person'shead remains elevated above a sleeping surface.

Minimizing or avoiding contact of the surface with the hair maintainsthe hairstyle. The elevation is sufficient to avoid contact between theperson's hair and the sleeping and pillow surfaces.

The pillow system consists of a small roughly cylindrical pillow thatsupports the neck and a conventional pillow that can support theshoulder area. The neck pillow contains deformable filler sufficient tomaintain the cylindrical shape and deformable to conform with the neckand provide support. The conventional pillow supports the sleepingperson's shoulder and provides an upper surface where the smallcylindrical neck pillow is positioned for a good night's sleep. Bothpillows in the system combine to provide the elevation of the head abovethe sleep surface during sleep.

The neck support pillow is positioned on the upper surface of theconventional pillow that supports the sleeping person's shoulder. Thecylindrical neck pillow has a diameter (d) that is sufficient tocompletely support the neck and elevate the head above the shouldersupport pillow and sleeping surface. The length (l) of the cylinderpillow is sufficient to maintain contact with the neck during sleep. Thelength and diameter of the neck pillow also maintain the position of theneck pillow on the conventional pillow surface. The filler choice isselected to provide a surface with sufficient flexibility to conformwith the neck region and provide support. The cylindrical neck pillowhas sufficient length to provide the support function throughout thenight so that the person can move around. The dimensions of the neckpillow also maintain the position of the neck pillow on the surface ofthe conventional pillow and elevation distancing to avoid the styledhair contact with the sleeping surface. Fillers are suited for use inthe neck pillow so long as a deformable flexible surface that supportsthe neck results. Source is not critical.

Other features of the present pillow system surface will become apparentin light of the following description of a preferred embodiment and asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled pillow system with theneck support pillow present on the upper surface of the shoulder supportpillow.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the cylindrical neck support pillow.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a person with a short hairstyle on anassembled pillow system having a neck support pillow on the upper sideof the shoulder support pillow positioned on a sleeping surface.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a person with a short hairstyle on anassembled pillow system having a neck support pillow on the upper sideof the shoulder support pillow positioned on a sleeping surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referencing FIG. 1, the pillow system (1) is shown resting on a sleepingsurface (2). The pillow system (1) consists of a movable neck supportpillow (3) and a shoulder support pillow (4). The pillow system isplaced on the sleeping surface (2) to align with the head of the personwhen sleeping.

Referencing FIG. 2, the roughly cylindrical neck support pillow (3) isshown with a diameter dimensioned to support the neck of a person whenasleep and a length sufficient to position the pillow on the shouldersupport pillow.

Referencing FIG. 3, a top view of a person, when asleep, properlypositioned on the pillow system with the neck pillow (3) place under andsupporting the person's neck and the shoulder supporting pillow incontact and the shoulder supporting pillow is in contact with theperson's shoulder. The subject's hair is not in contact with thesleeping surface (2) or the shoulder pillow (4) due to the diameter(height) of the neck support pillow (3).

Referencing FIG. 4, a side view of a person, when asleep, properlypositioned on the pillow system with the neck pillow (3) place under andsupporting the person's neck and the shoulder supporting pillow incontact and the shoulder supporting pillow in contact with the person'sshoulder. The subject's hair is not in contact with the sleeping surface(2) or the shoulder pillow (4) due to the diameter (height) of the necksupport pillow (3).

Operation

The pillow can be prepared from commercially available materials. Theshoulder supporting pillow is a conventional pillow. The smaller necksupporting pillow is roughly cylindrical. Typically, a length of about21 inches and a width of about 7½ inches. The perimeter is about 16inches. This length can be sufficient to conform with that of thesupporting conventional pillow. The diameter provides sufficient heightto avoid contact with the sleeping surface when combined with the heightof the conventional pillow. The diameter of the pillow is alsosufficient to provide continuous support of the neck of a person whensleeping. (The difference in length between the neck support pillow andthe conventional pillow can be 7 inches.)

It is expected that dimensions will vary depending on the size of theindividual and hair length. With that in mind, the dimensions usedshould achieve a head elevation sufficient to avoid contact of thestyled hair with the sleeping surface and the conventional pillowsurface. The maintenance of the hair style is achieved by avoidingsurface contact and any resultant friction resulting from the movementof the subject during sleep. Shorter hair styles simplify the systemrequirements and design.

The cylindrical pillow shown in the figures was prepared from thefollowing materials:

-   Cover Material-   Jersey Knit-   Color-   Navy-   Fabric Type-   96% Polyester 4% Spandex-   Filler Material-Poly-Fil Extra-Loft quilt-   Brand-   Fairfield-   100% Polyester batting.

The use of the present invention allows one to maintain his/her hairstyle while sleeping. There is a high degree of flexibility in itsoperation. The methodology is straight forward and employs a minimumnumber element. A conventional pillow can be used as the shouldersupport pillow. The underlying principle is the use of a roughlycylindrical neck support pillow of sufficient size to comfortablysupport the neck of the sleeping person so that combined height of theneck support pillow and the shoulder support pillow elevates the head ofthe person so that hair does not come in contact with the sleepingsurface (bed) and the height of the neck support pillow is sufficient toavoid hair contact with the shoulder support pillow. Less contactobviously prolongs hairstyle “life”.

The relative dimensions of the roughly cylindrical diameter and lengthcan stabilize the position of the neck pillow when placed—friction.There is a balance to maintained. The use of surface materials havingless friction, e.g. statin, minimize hair entanglements and damage tothe hairstyle. Stability is also improved through the use of denser fillmaterial. There is a balance here to since deformability and comfort aredesired.

The method of supporting the head of a person includes the steps ofproviding a sleeping surface for the support of a person and providing apillow system having a separable neck pillow and a separable shouldersupport pillow. The shoulder support pillow can be a conventionalpillow. The shoulder support pillow is positioned underneath a person tobe located generally between the shoulder and the head of the person.The neck support pillow is positioned on the shoulder support pillow sothat neck is fully supported. The height of the neck support pillow issufficient to elevate the head so that the hairstyle is above both thesleeping surface and the shoulder support surface. ct.

The support pillows can be packaged as a system in a kit form. Sizerelative sizes and heights can be matched based on size to facilitateuse. Taller subject populations can be distinguished from others.

Instructions can be included to facilitate product acceptance and usage.

While the invention has been described with an emphasis on preferredembodiments, it will be obvious that variations of the preferredembodiments may be used, and that it is intended that this invention maybe practiced otherwise than as specifically designed herein.Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications encompassedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the followingclaims.

1. A pillow system comprising a neck pillow and a shoulder supportpillow.
 2. A method of supporting the head of a person while sleepingcomprising, providing a sleeping surface for the support of a personwhile sleeping, providing a pillow system having a separable neck pillowand a separable shoulder support pillow according to claim 1,positioning the shoulder support pillow underneath a person to belocated generally between the shoulder and the head of the person, andpositioning the neck support pillow on the shoulder support pillow tosupport the neck and place the head in an elevate position above thesleeping surface and the shoulder support surface, avoiding contact. 3.In a kit for providing a pillow wherein the improvement comprises a necksupport pillow system according to claim 1